Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too quickly? The reasons for this can be sometimes surprising.What is the average amount of time that your hearing aid batteries should keep a charge? The standard hearing aid battery should last anywhere from 3 to 7 days. That range is pretty wide. So wide, actually, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament. Things could suddenly get quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the supermarket after 4 days of battery power. Or it’s day 5 and you’re having a call with friends when all of a sudden you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer follow the conversation. Now, you’re watching the TV. You can no longer hear the news. Hold on, it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before that 3-day mark. It’s not just annoying. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much battery power is left in your hearing aids. If your hearing aid batteries are draining too rapidly, there are several likely causes.
Moisture Can Deplete a Battery
There aren’t very many species that produce moisture through their skin but humans do. We do it to cool down. We do it to get rid of excess sodium or toxins in the blood. You may also live in a climate that’s humid and moist. This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less reliable. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals which create electricity. You can prevent moisture-related battery drainage with these steps:
- Obtain a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- Moist conditions, like the kitchen or bathroom aren’t a good place to keep your hearing aids
- if your storing them for a few days or more, remove the batteries
- Open the battery door before storing the hearing aids
Advanced Hearing Aid Features Can Run Down Batteries
Advanced digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that you could get just a decade ago. But if you’re not keeping your eye on them, these advanced features can cause faster battery drain. You can still use your favorite features. But be aware that if you stream music all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll have to change the battery sooner. Your battery can be drained by any of the advanced features, like Bluetooth, multichannel, noise cancellation, and tinnitus relief.
Batteries Can be Impacted by Altitude Changes
Moving from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, particularly if they’re on their older. When skiing, flying or climbing always takes some extra batteries.
It’s Possible That The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is low. Generally, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is depleted. Additionally, the charge can occasionally drop temporarily due to environmental or altitude changes and that can cause a false low battery warning. In order to end the alarm, take the batteries out, and then put them back in. You may be able to get several more hours or possibly even days out of that battery.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re about to use your hearing aid to remove the tab from the battery. Avoid getting dirt and skin oil on your hearing aid by cleaning your hands before touching them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t lengthen their life as it could with other kinds of batteries. Simple handling errors like these can cause hearing aid batteries to drain more quickly.
It isn’t a Good Plan to Buy a Year’s Supply of Batteries
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money move when you can afford to do it. But as you come to the end of the pack, the last few batteries likely won’t be at full power. Try to stay with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with wasting a few.
Shopping For Hearing Aid Batteries Online
Shopping from the web can be a good thing. You can get some great deals. But some less honest people will sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. They might even be past their expiration date. So you need to be careful.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. If you were going to buy milk, you would check the expiration date. You should do that with batteries also. Make sure that the date is not close to the expiration to get the most use out of the pack. It’s probably a smart idea to message the vendor if there isn’t an expiration date or even better, come see us for your battery needs. Be sure you know and trust the seller.
Now You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are several reasons that hearing batteries could drain quickly. But by taking little precautions you can get more life from each battery. If you’re in the market for a new set of hearing aids, you might consider a rechargeable model. If you charge them while you sleep, you get a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only need to be changed every few years.
